New CMS memo: MDS 3.0 Discharge assessments must be completed when a resident transfers from a Medicare and/or Medicaid certified bed to a non-certified bed

November 25, 2014

CMS has issued a new memo to State Survey Directors reinforcing the requirement for the completion of discharge assessments when a resident is transferred from a Medicare-and/or Medicaid-certified bed (i.e., a bed located within a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) or a Nursing Facility (NF) to a non-certified bed.

Nursing homes in most states can certify only a portion of their beds for Medicare and/or Medicaid.  The portions certified for Medicare/Medicare are what are actually considered the "facility" according to CMS.
If a resident enters a nursing home under Medicare (ie, for rehab) but then chooses to stay in the nursing home, they must either pay privately or have their care covered by Medicaid.  If private pay, it's possible the resident will actually be moved to a different bed - a "non-certified bed" in a different part of the facility.  When that happens, from CMS's perspective, they are essentially being transferred as if to a different nursing home.

This new guidance says that in such a transfer, a discharge assessment must be provided for that resident.

Click here to read the full guidance.